Galilee Israel Sauvignon Blanc

Galilee Israel Sauvignon Blanc

There are few regions in the world which are as renowned for their historical and cultural importance as Galilee. However, as a wine region, this area of Israel remains relatively undiscovered by much of the western world. As one might expect, Galilee is an important producer of kosher wines, with the vast majority of the produce made there carefully overseen by religious specialists ensuring that purity laws are observed. The result of this is a reasonably large industry focusing on Jewish communities around the world, who wish to enjoy classic, Old World style wines packed full of fascinating flavors and aromas. Galilee's mineral rich and volcanic soils allow vintners in the area to experiment with a wide range of grape varietals, and dozens of popular imported French varietals flourish well there. Since biblical times, Israel has been an important production center for wine, and continues to be so to this day. All over Israel, the Mediterranean climate the country enjoys ensures that grapes grow to full ripeness, and the vineyards are helped considerably by the mineral rich limestone soils which typify the geology of the wine regions. Interestingly, in Israel, up to fifteen percent of all wine production today is used for sacramental purposes, and the vast majority of the wines produced there are made in accordance to Jewish kosher laws. Israel is split into five major wine producing regions; Galil, The Judean Hills, Shimshon, The Negev, and the Sharon Plain, and in recent years the wine industry of Israel has brought over twenty five million dollars per annum to the Israeli economy. The green skinned grapes of the Sauvignon Blanc varietal had their origins in Southern France, where they are still widely grown and used for many of the excellent young and aged white wines the region is famous for. Today, however, they are grown in almost every wine producing country in the world, and are widely revered for their fresh and grassy flavors, full of tropical notes and refreshing, zesty character. Sauvignon Blanc grapes thrive best in moderate climates, and ripen relatively early in the year. This has made them a favorite for many wineries in the New World, where they can still produce healthy and high yields in the earlier part of the summer before the temperatures become too hot. Too much heat has a massively adverse effect on Sauvignon Blanc, as the grapes become dull in their flavor, and the wine produced from them loses all its unique character and high points. As such, Sauvignon Blanc farmers have had a lot of trouble from global warming and climate change, as they are being forced to harvest their crops increasingly earlier in the year when it is cool enough to do so.